How to Help a Teen Who is Cutting

I can still remember the way the blood looked on the white paper that sat on my desk. At the age of 13 I had a sudden urge to find a razor blade and cut into my wrists. The words “cutting” and “self-harm” were foreign to me. I knew of no other person in my … Continue reading “How to Help a Teen Who is Cutting”

How to cope with change?

Contrary to what we might think; change is difficult. If I want to change there is some stress, but if that change if forced on someone it is even more difficult. The more areas of change that are occurring in one’s life, the greater the impact. For example: If someone loses their job, have to … Continue reading “How to cope with change?”

Conflict with Parents: Getting them to Listen

Unfortunately, we CANNOT make anyone listen to us, no less our parents; but we can do some things to promote a possibility where this can take place. Let’s consider some of those now. There are those parents who feel that it is NOT their job to listen to their children since they are the parents. … Continue reading “Conflict with Parents: Getting them to Listen”

What to do when you’re Feeling Suicidal (or a loved one is)

Suicide seems to be everywhere. We see it in the news, we are asked about it in routine medical check ups, and hear about it in many conversations. Celebrities are doing it. Church leaders are doing it. Friends and family members are doing it. No one seems to be exempt from the darkness and confusion … Continue reading “What to do when you’re Feeling Suicidal (or a loved one is)”

What to do When Your Husband Looks at Porn

Pornography is a multi-million dollar business that exploits people. It demeans who they are. This very premise should be enough to convince us that pornography is not healthy for anyone. However, viewing pornography has been normalized in our society. In our very sexualized culture we want to believe that this can be used for healthy … Continue reading “What to do When Your Husband Looks at Porn”

Coping? What is the difference between coping and codependency?

This can be difficult to discern at times. By its basic definition, Codependency is “doing for others what they are capable of doing for themselves”. Its root desire is to change the situation; but, its basic focus is not for myself, but for others. Unfortunately, most of this help was not wanted or requested. So, … Continue reading “Coping? What is the difference between coping and codependency?”

EMDR Therapy

EMDR Therapy is helping me lessen my anxiety and is building my confidence. My client was smiling as she said this to me after one of her sessions. Words like these are ones I regularly hear from people who come for EMDR Therapy. I am an EMDR Therapist because I believe in the research and … Continue reading “EMDR Therapy”

Am I addicted to porn?

Pornography and Sex Addiction are hotly debated topics in today’s culture. From the questions about whether sex addiction even exists or how much pornography is too much, many people don’t know where to begin when considering the question “Am I addicted to porn?” With scandal after scandal in churches, Hollywood, and the political arena, it … Continue reading “Am I addicted to porn?”

Courage

A client and I were recently discussing what courage really is. Finding herself at a crossroads in life, she found that she was scared to death to make a decision about what to do next. She desperately wished she could muster up the courage to move forward. She didn’t feel fulfilled in her current job … Continue reading “Courage”

Helping our Children Succeed

We got an email from our daughter’s second grade teacher today. The teacher shared some of our daughter’s strengths, explained her areas of challenge, noted the accommodations that are currently being provided per her 504 plan, and asked what ideas we had for helping her improve her focus. Although this interaction was positive, it sent … Continue reading “Helping our Children Succeed”